Epiphany Years ABC 2025
Christmas • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 5 viewsWhile some churches miss the meaning of this story and separate Jew from Gentile churches, the narrative of the magi with all its unanswered questions and strangeness does pint to (1) prophetic utterances not being fulfilled the way the “experts” think they will be, (2) God’s having his own ways of speaking to men ignorant of the faith using their own learning, (3) God’s plan was not to make a second class of believers, but to make the Gentiles members of the same body as Israel and “copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus,” and (4) even if we understand little out duty is to follow the guidance God gives us, prostrate ourselves before Jesus, giving our all to him. Let us go and do likewise.
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Transcript
Title
Title
The Nations Come to the King
Outline
Outline
I grew up among churches that knew this story but not its meaning
I grew up among churches that knew this story but not its meaning
While my church pretended not to make Christmas special, we still talked about it, although the meaning of the Twelve Days of Christmas eluded us. We knew the story, but since our dispensational theology kept Israel and the Gentile Church separate, we did not get its meaning. All the denominations I knew held to the same theology.
But here we have the fulfillment of the Old Testament hope, the reunion of humankind, all the nations being able to become one with God’s people the Jews. All they needed to do was to submit to and worship the King of the Jews.
The story is as strange as any miracle
The story is as strange as any miracle
Jesus has been born and some pagan magi, astrologers, for they observed the stars, coming looking for the King of the Jews. We are not told how they knew what the star signified, nor how many of them there were, nor whether they had royal blood at all. They must have been wealthy given the nature of their gifts. And astrologers often were advisors to rulers, but only in the Old Testament are kings referred to.
They come, naturally enough, to the capital, not knowing that an insecure, aging Herod had already put two of his sons to death for plotting against him (he was wrong) and would put a third to death before he died. Herod did not welcome the magi and show them his newborn son; no, he was trouble and Jerusalem was troubled, not believing this pagan story, but knowing that when Herod was troubled blood flowed.
The chief priests and the scribes gave the right answer to Herod’s question, but did not follow the magi, perhaps being relieved that they were leaving Jerusalem.
The magi don’t seem to notice the reticence of the Jews, but are delighted to see the star again. They find the house, see the child, and do what they came for: prostrate themselves in homage and give gifts as a mark of submission.
The next morning, having had dream(s) during the night, they leave via another route for the east, perhaps relieved, for Jerusalem had been a strange experience.
What do we learn from this?
What do we learn from this?
First, prophetic utterances are often not fulfilled the way the “experts” and “insiders” think they will be.
Second, God has his way of speaking to men ignorant of the faith and the church, using their own learning.
Third, God’s plan was not to make the nations submit to the Jewish king as second class citizens, but “that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
Fourth and foremost, even if we understand little, our duty is to follow whatever “star” of guidance God graces us with and then prostrate ourselves before Jesus, giving our all to him, as Anthony of the Desert, among others, did.
So, whatever you do, follow God’s call in your life, live a life prostrate before Jesus, and give him your all. That is all you have to do to become a saint.